JP2001154656A - Entertainment system, entertainment device, recording medium and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make the message displayed on a monitor to be understood at a glance by making meanings of words on the message easy to recognize even without advance information. SOLUTION: This entertainment device is constituted of a display color code setting means 310 for setting display color codes needed for undefined display codes in message data dDm prior to processing, a message data preparing means 314 for storing the message data dDm in a buffer for display 312 while preparing the message data Dm of a row unit based on the number of rows of a message 204 and a message display output means 316 for displaying the character string or the like of a data part with display colors indicated by display color codes by starting the displaying of the message 204 from the coordinates indicated by a coordinate code. When there is a display color code indicating an undefinition in display color codes of the message data dDm, the display color code setting means 310 searches to which classification a word corresponding to a display color code indicating the undefinition corresponds and defines the word to a display color code in accordance with the searched result.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a message displayed on a display device, in which words classified into the same category are written in the same color so that the meaning of the word can be easily recognized without prior information. The present invention relates to an entertainment system configured as described above, an entertainment apparatus that executes various programs, a recording medium on which programs and data used in the entertainment system are recorded, and the program itself.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an information device (entertainment system) such as an entertainment device including a video game machine, for example, a game content stored in a recording medium such as a CD-ROM is displayed on a screen of a television receiver. There are devices that operate the operation device to advance the game.

[0003] In the entertainment system, the entertainment device and the operating device are usually connected by a serial interface. When a clock is sent from the entertainment device, a key switch corresponding to a user operation from the operating device is synchronized with the clock. Information is sent.

Further, recently, a vibration generating means for giving a vibration to a user in response to a request from the outside (for example, an entertainment device) is provided in the operating device so that the device responds to the user's operation during a game, for example. As a result, a system for giving various vibrations to a user has been developed and has been put to practical use.

[0005]

By the way, there are various games played using a video game machine, such as a role playing game, a shooting game, a driving game, a fighting game, and the like.

In a shooting game, a fighting game, or the like, the main purpose is to defeat an opponent by an attack. For example, an operation guidance or the like is mainly used as a message.

[0007] On the other hand, in a role-playing game, there is one basic story. For example, the hero travels to various places along this story to experience events set in each scene or to hide. The main focus is on finding items that have been done.

[0008] One of the fun aspects of the role-playing game is that while the hero travels, he meets various people and listens to advice and tips to get hints on the development of the story. .

[0009] The above-mentioned advice and gurumi are displayed on the monitor as messages. If the number of characters in the message is short (for example, within 10 characters), it can be understood at a glance even if all the characters are displayed in the same color, but if the number of characters in the message is long (for example, 20 or more characters) Is difficult to identify at a glance words such as place names, person names, names of monsters to fight, etc., embedded in the message, and there is a disadvantage that the user has to read it many times to understand the contents.

Conventionally, for example, a message is displayed in green,
In some cases, only certain words were displayed in red, for example.
You can't understand at a glance what the word means, that is, a person's name or a place name.

In particular, in a role-playing game, since the development of the game is explored with a hint of a slight clue, it takes a long time, and during that time,
It is rare for a user to remember which region he has visited and which monster he has fought, and it is difficult to understand the contents only by looking at the message.

[0012] Further, if the message is displayed in front of a main object such as a hero, it is impossible to know who the hero is talking to and who has issued a hint or a gulp. It has to be a wasteful operation to make the hero roam around the area many times, which is troublesome.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and it is possible to make it easier to recognize the meaning of a word on a message without prior information, and to view a message displayed on a monitor at a glance. It is an object of the present invention to provide an entertainment system, an entertainment apparatus, a recording medium, and a program that can be understood by a user and can maintain interest in the game when applied to the game.

Another object of the present invention is to display a message while avoiding a main object such as a hero, and to easily confirm the source of the message even while the message is being displayed. An object of the present invention is to provide an entertainment system, an entertainment apparatus, a recording medium, and a program that can maintain interest in the game when the game is applied to the game.

[0015]

An entertainment system according to the present invention comprises: an entertainment device for executing various programs; at least one operating device for inputting a user's operation request to the entertainment device; and an output from the entertainment device. And a message display means for displaying words classified into the same category among messages displayed on the display device in the same color.

An entertainment device according to the present invention is an entertainment device in which at least an operation device for outputting an operation request from a user and a display device for displaying an image are connectable. Message display means for displaying words classified into the same category among messages to be displayed in the same color.

Further, the present invention provides an entertainment device for executing various programs, at least one operating device for inputting an operation request from a user to the entertainment device, and a display device for displaying an image output from the entertainment device. Including a message display step of displaying words classified into the same category among messages displayed on the display device in the same color on a recording medium on which a program or data used in an entertainment system having It is characterized by.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an entertainment device for executing various programs, at least one operating device for inputting an operation request from a user to the entertainment device, and displaying an image output from the entertainment device. Message display step of displaying words in the same category among messages displayed on the display device in a computer-readable and executable program used in an entertainment system having a display device having the same color. It is characterized by including.

Thus, it is possible to easily recognize the meaning of a word on a message without prior information, so that the message displayed on the monitor can be understood at a glance. For example, it is possible to identify at a glance whether the word is a place name, a person's name, a monster to fight, or the like from the display color of the word included in the message.

Further, for example, the display color is changed (including brightness inversion) between a place name that has been visited and a place name that has not been visited, or the name of a person who has met and the name of a person who has not met By changing the display color between and, you can easily understand the contents of the message even if you do not have prior information or have forgotten part of the game development so far, Is gone. This can keep the user interested in the game, for example, when applied to a game that takes a long time such as a role playing game.

The message data handled by the message display means (step) and used for displaying the message are displayed in a data portion indicating a word to be displayed and a display indicating a display color of the word. A plurality of combinations with color codes may be arranged, and each display color code may indicate a display color corresponding to the type of the corresponding word.

In this case, when the display color code of the message data includes a display color code indicating undefined, the message display means (step) determines which type of the word corresponding to the display color code indicating undefined. May be provided, and a display color code setting means (step) for defining a display color code according to the search result may be provided.

Thus, an algorithm for displaying words classified into the same category in the same color can be easily constructed.

Further, the message display means (step) may include a message frame display means (step) for displaying a message frame in which a message is displayed.

In this case, the message frame display means (step) determines at least the display range of the message frame based on the number of characters of the message displayed inside and the display range of the main object in the scene currently being displayed. May be provided.

Thus, the message can be displayed while avoiding the main object such as the main character, and the source of the message can be easily confirmed even while the message is being displayed.

[0027]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment in which an entertainment system and an entertainment apparatus according to the present invention are applied to a video game apparatus, a recording medium and a program according to the present invention, Embodiments applied to a recording medium on which data is recorded and a program are shown in FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the entertainment system 10 according to the present embodiment is basically configured as shown in FIG.
Entertainment device 1 for executing various programs
2, a memory card 14 detachable from the entertainment device 12, an operation device (controller) 16 detachable from the entertainment device 12 by a connector 62, and video / audio from the entertainment device 12. A monitor (display) 18 which is a display device such as a television receiver to which a signal is supplied is provided.

The entertainment device 12 includes, for example,
This is for reading a program recorded on a large-capacity storage medium such as an optical disk 20 such as a CD-ROM and executing a game or the like in response to an instruction from a user (user: a game player or the like). The execution of the game mainly means that an input from the operation device 16 is transmitted to the connector 6.
2 to control the progress of the game while controlling the display and sound on the monitor 18.

The entertainment device 12 has a substantially flat rectangular parallelepiped shape, and has a central portion in which application programs and data for a video game or the like are stored and an optical disk 20 for supplying them is mounted. The mounting unit 22, a reset switch 24 for arbitrarily resetting the currently running program, a disk operation switch 26 for operating the mounting of the optical disk 20, a power switch 28, and, for example, two slot units 30, 32 It is comprised including.

The recording medium for supplying the application program is not limited to the optical disk 20, but the application program may be supplied via a communication line.

The slots 30 and 32 are respectively composed of upper slots 30B and 32B and lower slots 30A and 30B.
32A, and the lower slot portions 30A, 32A.
A can be connected to the operation device 16 respectively.
A memory card 14 capable of storing a flag indicating an intermediate state of a game or the like and a portable information terminal (not shown) functioning also as the memory card 14 are mounted in the upper slot portions 30B and 32B, respectively. You can do it. The slot 30 (30A, 30A)
B) and 32 (32A, 32B) have asymmetric shapes to avoid erroneous insertion.

As shown in FIG. 1, the operating device 16
And the second operation units 34 and 36, the L button 38L and the R button 38R, the start button 40, the selection button 4
2, the left and right rotary operators 44 and 46 capable of analog operation, a mode selection switch 48 for selecting the operation mode of these rotary operators 44 and 46, and the selected operation mode is displayed. And a display unit 50. The display unit 50 is configured by a light emitting element such as a light emitting diode.

As shown in FIG. 2, the operating device 16 has an operating device main body 104 in which an upper half 100 and a lower half 102 are abutted with each other and connected using fixing means such as screws.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, from one side of each end of the operation device main body 104, when the operation device 16 is connected to the entertainment device 12, for example, when searching for information or executing a game. Left and right grips 106 and 108 which are gripped so as to be included by the left and right palms are protrudingly provided.

The left and right grips 106 and 108 are
As shown in FIG. 3, the projections are spaced apart from each other toward the distal end and project downward toward the operation device main body 104.

As shown in FIG. 3, the left and right grips 106 and 108 are tapered from the connecting portion to the operating device main body 104 toward the distal end, as shown in FIG. , The peripheral surface has an arc surface, and the tip side is formed in an arc shape.

FIG. 2 shows one end of the operating device main body 104.
As shown in FIG. 3, four operators 110 a to 110 d (an upward operator 110 a, a right operator 110 b, a lower operator 110 c, and a left operator 110 c) protruding from the upper surface side of the operating device main body 104. The first operation unit 34 in which the operation elements 110d) are arranged to be orthogonal to each other is provided.

The first operating section 34 includes four operating elements 11
Switch elements as signal input elements are provided corresponding to 0a to 110d, respectively. The first operation unit 34 functions as, for example, a direction instruction control unit that controls the movement of the display character, selectively presses the operation elements 110a to 110d, and turns on the switch elements corresponding to the operation elements 110a to 110d. By turning on / off, each operating element 110a on which a display character on the screen is pressed, for example.
Ｄ110d in the arrangement direction.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, four operating elements 112a to 112d (△) projecting toward the upper surface of the operating device main body 104 are provided at the other end of the operating device main body 104.
Mark operator 112a, mark operator 112b,
X mark operator 112c and ○ mark operator 112
d) a second operation unit 36 in which d) are arranged so as to be orthogonal to each other
Are arranged.

These four operators 112a to 112d
Are formed as independent members, respectively.
Switch elements as signal input elements are provided corresponding to 2a to 112d.

The second operating section 36 sets, for example, the functions of the display characters assigned to the respective operators 112a to 112d by turning on the switches corresponding to the four operators 112a to 112d, for example. Alternatively, it is used as a function setting execution unit that executes a function of the display character.

The L button 38 is located at each of the left and right ends on the front side opposite to the rear side, which is one side where the left and right grips 106 and 108 of the operation device main body 104 protrude.
L and R buttons 38R are provided. 2 and 4
As shown in the figure, the L button 38L is
1 button) 114a and left second operator (L2 button)
The R button 38R includes a right first operator (R1 button) 116a and a right second operator (R2 button) 116b.

The L1 button 114a and L2 button 114b and the R1 button 116a and R2 button 11
6b is provided with a switch element corresponding to each operation element.

The L button 38L and the R button 38R are turned on by, for example, switches corresponding to the L1 button 114a and the L2 button 114b, and the R1 button 116a and the R2 button 116b. The function of the display character assigned to the button 116a and the R2 button 116b is set, or the function is used as a function setting execution unit that executes the function of the display character.

The operating device 16 is similar to that shown in FIGS.
As shown in the figure, the left and right analog operating units 118 and 12 are located at opposing positions of the corners on the side of the connecting unit to the operating device main body 104, which are the base ends of the left and right grips 106 and 108.
0 is provided.

The left and right analog operation units 118 and 1
Reference numeral 20 includes left and right rotary operators 44 and 46 rotatable in a 360 ° direction about an operation axis, and signal input elements such as variable resistance elements operated by the left and right rotary operators 44 and 46. . That is, the left and right rotary operators 44 and 46 are attached to the distal end side of the operation shaft mounted to return to the neutral position by the biasing member, and are operated to rotate in the 360 ° direction around the rotation fulcrum of the operation shaft. Is done.

The left and right analog operation units 118 and 1
Reference numeral 20 denotes an analog movement such as moving the display character while rotating or moving the display character while changing the speed, and further changing the form by rotating the left and right rotary operators 44 and 46. It is used as an operation unit capable of inputting a command signal enabling the operation.

The switching operation of the mode selection switch 48 causes, for example, the left and right analog operation units 118 to operate.
And an operation mode in which the input of command signals from the analog operation units 118 and 120 is prohibited.

The switching operation of the mode selection switch 48 further causes the left and right analog operation units 118 and 1 to operate.
20 as well as the functions of the controls 112a to 112d of the second operation unit 36, the L1 button 114a and the L2 button 114b of the L button 38L and the R button 38R, and the R1 buttons 116a and R
The operation mode in which the function of the two buttons 116b is switched is selected. Depending on the state of these operation modes,
The display unit 50 flashes, and the display light is further switched.

As described above, the operating device 16 having the left and right grips 106 and 108 protruding from the operating device main body 104.
As shown in FIG. 4, the left and right grips 106 and 108
Is grasped so as to be wrapped in the palms of both hands, so that it is not necessary to support the operation device main body 104 with fingers, and it is possible to grasp up to 10 fingers of both hands and at least 6 fingers in a freely movable state. .

As shown in FIG. 4, for example, when the left and right grips 106 and 108 are grasped so as to be wrapped in the palms of both hands, the thumbs Rf1 and Lf1 of the left and right hands Rf and Lf are respectively moved to the left and right analog operation sections. 118 and 12
0 on the left and right rotary operators 44 and 46, the first operation unit 3
4 on the first to fourth operators 110a to 110d and the second
First to fourth operators 112a to 112d of the operation unit 36
It can be extended upward to selectively press these rotary operators 44 and 46 and the operators 110a to 110d and 112a to 112d.

In particular, the left and right analog operation units 118 and 1
The left and right grips 106 and 10 are gripped so as to be wrapped in the palms of both hands.
8 are disposed opposite to each other on the base end side, which is the connection side to the operating device main body 104, so that when the left and right grips 106 and 108 are gripped by the left and right hands, the left and right hands R
f and Lf are extended to the positions closest to the thumbs Rf1 and Lf1. Therefore, the rotary operators 44 and 46 can be easily rotated by the thumbs Rf1 and Lf1 of the left and right hands Rf and Lf.

Also, as shown in FIG.
When the hands 06 and 108 are grasped so as to be wrapped in the palms of both hands, the index fingers Rf2 and Lf2 and the middle fingers Rf3 and Lf3 of the left and right hands Rf and Lf are held at the R button 38R and the L button 38L by the R1 button 116a and the R2 button 116b and the L1 button. Button 114a and L2 button 11
4b can be extended to a position where it can be selectively pressed.

Further, as shown in FIG.
6 includes two vibration applying mechanisms 12 for applying vibration to the user so that the game can be executed with a more realistic feeling.
8R and 128L are provided.

Each of the vibration applying mechanisms 128R and 128L
As shown in FIG. 5, the operation device 16 is disposed on the base end side of the left and right grip portions 106 and 108 which are gripped by fingers when gripping the operation device 16.

Typically, the right vibration applying mechanism 128R is
The drive motor 130R is driven by a vibration generation command supplied from the entertainment apparatus 12, and includes an eccentric member 134R attached to a drive shaft of the drive motor 130R. Left vibration applying mechanism 128
L also has a similar configuration.

Each of the eccentric members 134R and 134L is formed of a heavy metal member, is eccentrically attached to a fitting hole which is fitted to a drive shaft and serves as a center of rotation, and is formed as a semicircular weight. I have.

The vibration imparting mechanism 128 thus configured
The drive motors 130R and 130L are driven by the drive motors 130R and 130L, and the eccentric members 134R and 134L are rotated, so that the drive motors 130R and 130L vibrate, and the vibration is generated by the left grip 106 and the right grip 10.
The vibration is transmitted to the fingers holding the left grip 106 and the right grip 108.

Here, vibration imparting mechanisms 128R and 128L disposed on the left and right grips 106 and 108, respectively.
Are configured to have different vibration characteristics.

For example, the drive motor 130L in the left vibration applying mechanism 128L is replaced with the right drive motor 130R.
The rotation speed changes according to the vibration value included in the vibration generation command transmitted from the entertainment device 12, and the frequency of the generated vibration changes according to the vibration value. . In this example,
The frequency of the vibration is set to increase in proportion to the vibration value.

On the other hand, the drive motor 130R in the right vibration imparting mechanism 128R "drives" or "stops" according to the logical value "1" or "0" of the vibration value included in the vibration generation command. Unlike the vibration applying mechanism 128L on the left side, either a certain vibration is applied or no vibration is applied.

As described above, in order to drive the drive motors 130R and 130L to vibrate the entire operation device 16, it is necessary to provide a bidirectional communication function between the operation device 16 and the entertainment device 12. Is required, and this function will be described later.

Next, the circuit configuration of the entertainment device 12 and the operation device 16 will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, as shown in FIG. 6, the entertainment apparatus 12 has a central processing unit (CPU: Central Processing Unit).
Processing Unit) 80 and a control system 82 composed of peripheral devices and the like, and an image processing device (G) that includes a frame buffer (not shown) and performs drawing in the frame buffer.
PU: Graphic Processing Unit (GPU), etc., a sound system 86, such as a sound processing unit (SPU: Sound Processing Unit) for generating musical sounds and sound effects, and an optical disk on which application programs and data are recorded An optical disk control unit 88 for performing read control of the device 20, a communication control unit 90 for performing input and output of data and the like with respect to the operating device 16 and the memory card 14, and a system bus 92 to which these units are connected
It has.

In this case, the video signal and the audio signal output from the graphic system 84 and the sound system 86 constituting the entertainment apparatus 12 are transmitted to the monitor 18.
The video is displayed on the screen of the monitor 18 and the sound is output from the speaker of the monitor 18.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, the operation device 16 includes a communication control unit 150, a CPU 152, a program memory 154, an operation RAM 156, a digital input block 158, an analog input block 160, a left motor driver 170L, and a left motor driver 170L. A driving motor 130L, a right motor driver 170R, and a right driving motor 130R are provided. These components are connected to a bus 162.

The digital input block 158 has, for example, a function as an input operation unit for each of the operators 110a to 110d and 112a to 112d constituting the first operation unit 34 and the second operation unit 36. And
The analog input block 160 has a function as an input operation section for the left and right rotary operators 44 and 46. Therefore, the digital input block 158
The analog input block 160 allows the user to input various information.

The communication control section 150 has a function of performing serial communication with an external device. The communication control unit 150 can be electrically connected to, for example, the communication control unit 90 (see FIG. 6) of the entertainment device 12, whereby the entertainment device 12
And data communication processing can be performed.

On the other hand, the bidirectional communication function between the entertainment device 12 and the operation device 16 is achieved by connecting a connector 62 for performing bidirectional serial communication with the operation device 16 to the entertainment device 12 as shown in FIG. It can be carried out.

The configuration for performing the bidirectional communication function on the operation device 16 side includes a serial I / O interface SIO for performing serial communication with the entertainment device 12 and a parallel I / O interface PIO for inputting operation data from a plurality of operation buttons. , A CPU, a RAM and a ROM, a one-chip microcomputer (hereinafter, referred to as a microcomputer), and motor drivers 170R and 170L for rotatingly driving the driving motors 130R and 130L of the vibration applying mechanisms 128R and 128L. The motors 130R and 130L are the corresponding motor drivers 1
It is driven to rotate by the supply voltage and current from 70R and 170L.

The entertainment device 12 has a structure in which a serial I / O interface SIO for performing serial communication between the operating devices 16 is provided. When a connector 62 of the operating device 16 is connected, It is connected to the serial I / O interface SIO on the operation device 16 side, and has a configuration capable of performing bidirectional communication means, that is, bidirectional serial communication.
The other detailed configuration of the entertainment device 12 is omitted.

Signal lines and control lines for performing bidirectional serial communication are connected from the entertainment device 12 to the operation device 16.
Data transmission signal line TXD (Tr
ansmit X 'for Data), a data transmission signal line RXD (Received X' for Data) for transmitting data from the operation device 16 to the entertainment device 12, and data from the data transmission signal lines TXD and RXD. A signal line SCK (Serial Clock) for a serial synchronous clock to be extracted,
A control line DTR (Data Terminal Ready) for establishing and interrupting communication with the operating device 16 on the terminal side.
And a control line DSR (Data Set Ready) for flow control for transferring a large amount of data.

As shown in FIG. 8, the cable including the signal line and the control line for performing the bidirectional serial communication includes an entertainment device 1 in addition to the signal line and the control line.
Power cable 172 directly taken from the power supply on the 2 side
The power cable 172 is connected to the motor drivers 170R and 170L on the operation device 16 side and supplies power for rotating the drive motors 130R and 130L.

The bidirectional serial communication procedure having such a configuration is performed in such a manner that, for example, the entertainment device 12 communicates with the operation device 16 and fetches operation data from the digital input block 158 and the analog input block 160. , The entertainment device 12 outputs the selected data to the control line DTR. As a result, the operating device 16 confirms that it has been selected by the control line DTR, and waits for reception of the subsequent signal line TXD. Subsequently, the entertainment device 12 sends an identification code indicating the operation device 16 to the data transmission signal line TXD. Thereby, the operating device 16 receives this identification code from the signal line TXD.

After the operation device 16 recognizes the identification code, the communication with the entertainment device 12 is started thereafter. That is, control data and the like are transmitted from the entertainment device 12 to the operation device 16 via a data transmission signal line TXD, and conversely, the operation device 16 transmits a digital input block 158 and an analog input block 16.
The operation data or the like operated at 0 is transmitted to the signal line R for data transmission.
It is transmitted to the entertainment device 12 via the XD. In this way, bidirectional serial communication is performed between the entertainment device 12 and the operation device 16, and this communication ends when the entertainment device 12 outputs the selection stop data through the control line DTR.

If the bidirectional serial communication function is provided in this manner, the operation data of the digital input block 158 and the analog input block 160 from the operation device 16 can be mainly transmitted to the entertainment device 12. From the entertainment device 12 side, the drive motors 130R and 13R of the respective vibration imparting mechanisms 128R and 128L are transmitted via the data transmission signal line TXD.
Operation device 1 transmits a vibration generation command for rotating 0L.
6 can be sent out.

The vibration generating command for rotating each of the drive motors 130R and 130L includes a command preset by the optical disc 20 set in the entertainment device 12 and a command newly created by the entertainment device 12. For example, according to an operation target of a user who plays a game, the entertainment device 12
Thus, feedback by vibration transmission for a certain period of time is performed on the operation device 16 itself.

Next, the characteristic functions of the entertainment system 10 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIGS.

This function is to display words classified into the same category among messages displayed on the monitor 18 in the same color.

Specifically, first, as shown in FIG. 9, for example, when the main character 200 approaches the townsman 202 and issues a command to hear something (for example, operating the decision button 112d), The townspeople 202 give hints and hints in the development of the game, and the messages 204
Assume that it is displayed as

When the number of characters of the message 204 is long (for example, when the number of characters is 10 or more), for example, as shown in FIG.
Is displayed, and when the number of characters of the message 204 is short (for example, less than 10 characters), for example, as shown in FIG. 10, the message 204 is displayed near the person who issued the message 204 (in this case, the town people 202). The message 204 will be displayed in the balloon frame 208.

For example, in the example of FIG. 9, assuming that x is a person's name, Δ is a place name, モ ン ス タ ー is a monster's name, and ○ is a part of the text of another message, For example, the name of a person who has met is displayed in light blue, and the name of a person who has not met is displayed in blue, for example.

Similarly, when the place name indicated by ■ is the name of a district where the hero 200 has been, it is displayed in, for example, yellow, and when the place name has not been performed, it is displayed in, for example, brown. If the name of the monster indicated by ▲ is the name of a monster that fought with the hero 200, the name is displayed in pink, for example, and if the name of a monster that has never fought is displayed in red, for example. The other message portions indicated by ○ are displayed in green, for example.

For the division of the display colors, as shown in FIG. 11, luminance inversion may be used. In this case, for example,
Is the name of a person the hero 200 has met, for example, as shown in FIG. 9, is displayed in blue,
If it is the name of a person who has never met, for example, as shown in FIG.

Similarly, if the place name indicated by ■ is the name of a district where the hero 200 has been, for example, as shown in FIG. 9, if the place name is displayed in yellow and has not been performed, For example, as shown in FIG. 11, the image is displayed with yellow luminance inversion. If the name of the monster indicated by ▲ is the name of the monster that fought with the hero 200, for example, as shown in FIG. 9, if it is the name of a monster that has never fought, as shown in FIG. In this way, the image is displayed with the red luminance inversion.

On the other hand, the message frame 210 such as the rectangular frame 206 and the balloon frame 208 uses, for example, white or gray as the ground color. For example, white is used when the background color is close to the primary color or dark, and gray is used when the background color is white.

Further, the message frame 210 is, for example, a townman 2 who is transmitting the hero 200 and the message 204.
02, etc., are displayed avoiding the display position of the main object in the message display.

Next, an example of software (message display means 300) for achieving the above-described functions will be described with reference to FIGS.

The message display means 300 is provided to the entertainment system 10 via a randomly accessible recording medium such as a CD-ROM or a memory card, or via a network. Here, an optical disk 2 such as a CD-ROM
The description will proceed on the assumption that the entertainment apparatus 12 operates from 0.

That is, the message display means 300 is controlled by being downloaded from the specific optical disc 20 reproduced in advance by the entertainment apparatus 12 to the main memory in the control system 82 of the entertainment apparatus 12 through a predetermined process. System 82 C
It is designed to operate on the PU80.

Then, the message display means 300
As shown in FIG. 12, the message frame determining means 302 determines the type and size of the message frame 210 and the display range based on the number of characters of the message 204, the display range of the main object, and the like. Message 20 based on the display range of message frame 210
4, a message line number determining means 304 for determining the number of lines
Maximum character number determination means 3 for determining the maximum number of characters per line based on the number of characters of message 204 and the number of lines of message 204
06, display range of message frame 210 and message 2
And a coordinate determination unit 308 for determining the display start coordinates of each line based on the number of lines of “04”.

[0093] The message display means 300 is provided as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, a display color code setting means 310 for setting a display color code required for an undefined display color code in the message data dDm before processing, and a message 204
Message data creating means 314 for creating the message data Dm in line units based on the number of lines and storing the message data Dm in the display buffer 312, and starting the display of the message 204 from the coordinates indicated by the coordinate code and displaying the message indicated by the display color code. A message display output unit 316 that displays a character string or the like of the data portion in color.

Further, the message data creating means 314
Is a line unit setting unit 3 for dividing the message data dDm before processing into one line units and storing the divided data in the display buffer 312.
18 and a display color code adding means 320 for adding a color code to the beginning of the message data Dm of each line from the second line onward.
And a coordinate code adding means 322 for adding a coordinate code to the head of the message data Dm of each line.

Here, an example of the message data dDm and Dm handled by the message display means 300 will be described with reference to FIGS. 13A and 13B.

First, the message data dDm before being processed by the message display means 300 is, as shown in FIG. 13A, a combination of a display color code and a data portion (having data indicating a word such as a character string). Are repeated a plurality of times. In particular, among the display color codes,
For example, green is defined as the display color code corresponding to the character string of the portion indicated by, and the display color code corresponding to the character string of the portion indicated by x, ■, or ▲ is undefined.

As shown in FIG. 13B, the message data (message data stored in the display buffer 312) Dm processed by the message display means 300 and displayed are coordinates indicating the display start position in units of rows. A code is added, and a combination of a display color code and a data portion is repeated a plurality of times after the coordinate code. The character string (word) indicated by the data part is displayed in the display color indicated by the immediately preceding display color code.

Next, the processing operation of the message display means 300 will be described with reference to FIGS.

The message display means 300 first
In step S1 of FIG. 14, the processing by the display color code setting means 310 is started.

The display color code setting means 310 first stores an initial value "1" in an index register j used for searching for a display color code in step S101 in FIG. 15, and initializes the index register j. Become

Next, in step S102, the j-th display color code of the message data dDm to be displayed this time is read, and in the next step S103, it is determined whether or not the read display color code is undefined. Is determined. If not defined, proceed to the next step S104,
Read the j-th data part.

Next, in step S105, the read-out data portion is searched for a display color information table 330 for defining a display color.

In the display color information table 330, as shown in FIG. 16, for example, each record stores a data portion having the same content as the data portion for which the display color code is undefined, and a type flag of the data portion. It is configured.

The type flag includes a two-bit name part,
It is classified into three parts, a place name part having a bit structure and a monster part having a two-bit structure, and "1" can be set in only one of these six bits.

One bit of the personal name part is set to “1” when the person indicated by the data part is meeting the hero, and the other bit of the personal name part is set when the person indicated by the data part is not meeting the hero. "1" can be set.

One bit of the place name part is set to “1” when the hero is in the area indicated by the data part, and the other bit of the place name part is when the hero is not in the area indicated by the data part. "1" can be set.

One bit of the monster portion is set to “1” when the monster indicated by the data portion is fighting the hero, and the other bit of the monster portion is set when the monster indicated by the data portion is not fighting the hero. "1" can be set.

When the content of 6 bits constituting the type flag is "100000", light blue is defined as the display color, and when "010000", blue is defined.
In the case of “001000”, yellow is defined.

When the content of 6 bits constituting the type flag is “000100”, brown is defined as the display color, and when the content is “000010”, pink is defined.
In the case of “000001”, red is defined.

Returning to the description of the routine of FIG. 15, in the next step S106, j is added to the display color information table 330.
It is determined whether or not the data portion exists. If it exists, the process proceeds to the next step S107, and the type flag stored in the corresponding record in the display color information table 330 is read.

Next, in step S108, a display color corresponding to the content of the read type flag is set to the undefined display color code.

On the other hand, if the data portion does not exist in step S106, the flow advances to step S109 to set green as the display color.

When the processing in step S108 or S109 is completed, or when it is determined in step S103 that it is not undefined, the process proceeds to the next step S110, where the value of the index register j is updated by +1. In step S111, it is determined whether the process is completed. This determination is made based on whether all display color codes have been processed. If not, the process returns to step S102, and the process for the next display color code is performed. That is, if it is not defined, the type of the data portion is searched, and a process of defining a display color according to the type is performed. If it is determined in step S111 that the processing has been completed, the processing by the display color code setting means 310 ends.

Returning to the main routine of FIG. 14, in the next step S2, the type of the message frame 210 and the size of the message frame 210 are determined by the message frame determining means 302 based on the number of characters of the message 204 to be displayed. Types of the message frame 210 include a rectangular frame 206 and a balloon frame 208 as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.

Next, in step S 3, the display range and frame (mainly displayed on the monitor 18) of the main object (such as the hero 200 and the person 202 in the town issuing the message 204) are displayed through the message frame determining means 302. The display range of the message frame 210 is determined based on the display range of the message frame 210 and the size of the message frame 210.

Next, in step S4, the number of lines of the message 204 to be displayed is determined by the message line number determining means 304 based on the number of characters of the message 204 and the size of the message frame 210.

Next, in step S5, the maximum number of characters in one line is determined by the maximum number of characters determining means 306 based on the number of characters and the number of lines of the message 204.

Next, in step S 6, the display start coordinates of each row are determined by the coordinate determination means 308, and the determined coordinates are stored in the coordinate information table 332.

Next, in step S7, the processing by the message data creating means 314 is started. Here, the processing in the message data creation means 314 will be described with reference to FIG.

This message data creation means 314
First, in step S201 in FIG. 17, an initial value "1" is stored in an index register i used for updating the number of rows, and the index register i is initialized.

Next, in step S202, data corresponding to the maximum number of characters in one line for the i-th line (message data dDmi for the i-th line) is read from the message data dDm through the line unit setting means 318.

Next, in step S203, it is determined whether or not the message data dDmi to be processed is the message data dDm1 on the first line. This determination is
The determination is made based on whether the value of the index register i is “1”.

If it is not the message data dDm1 on the first line, the flow advances to the next step S204, and the display color code at the end of the line (i-1) is changed to the message data dDmi on the i-th line through the display color code adding means 320. Add to the beginning.

When the processing in step S204 is completed, or when it is determined in step S203 that the message data is dDm1 on the first line, the flow advances to the next step S205, where the display color code adding means 32
Through 0, the display color code at the end of the line in the message data dDmi on the i-th line is secured.

Next, in step S 206, the coordinate information table 332 is transmitted through the coordinate code adding means 322.
The coordinate data is read from the i-th record, and is added as a coordinate code to the head (before the display color code) of the message data dDmi on the i-th row.

Next, in step S207, the message data d of the i-th row is
Dmi is stored in the display buffer 312.

Next, after updating the value of the index register i by +1 in step S208, it is determined in next step S209 whether or not all the message data dDm to be displayed this time has been processed through the line unit setting means 318. Is done. This determination is made based on whether or not the value of the index register i is larger than the determined number of rows.

If all the message data dDm to be displayed this time have not been processed, the process returns to step S202, and a process of adding a display code and a coordinate code for the next line of message data dDmi is performed.

When the processing for all the rows is completed, the processing in the message data creating means 314 is completed.

Returning to the main routine of FIG. 14, in the next step S8, the message data Dm stored in the display buffer 312 is output to the monitor 18 via the message display output means 316 and included in the message data Dm. A word such as a character string composed of a data part to be displayed is displayed. At this time, the message display output means 316 starts displaying the message from the coordinates indicated by the coordinate code, and displays the character string and the like of the data section in the display color indicated by the display color code.

When the processing in step S8 ends, the processing in message display means 300 ends.

As described above, in the entertainment system 10 according to the present embodiment, words classified into the same category among the messages 204 displayed on the monitor 18 are displayed in the same color. Without the information, the meaning of the word on the message 204 can be easily recognized, and the message 204 displayed on the monitor 18 can be understood at a glance. For example, from the display color of a word incorporated in the message 204, it is possible to identify at a glance whether the word is a place name, a person name, a monster name to fight, and the like.

Further, for example, the display color may be changed (including brightness inversion) between a place name that has been visited and a place name that has not been visited, or the name of a person who has met and the name of a person who has not met. The user can easily understand the contents of the message 204 even if there is no prior information or the player has partially forgotten the game development by changing the display color between Is no longer annoying. This can keep the user interested in the game, for example, when applied to a game that takes a long time such as a role playing game.

In the entertainment system 10 according to the present embodiment, the message data dDm used for displaying the message 204 includes a data portion indicating a word such as a character string to be displayed and a display color of the word. Are arranged in a plurality, and each display color code indicates a display color corresponding to the type of the corresponding word.

In particular, when the display color code of the message data dDm includes a display color code indicating an undefined state, a search is performed to determine which type corresponds to the word corresponding to the display color code indicating the undefined state. Since the display color code is defined according to the search result, an algorithm for displaying words classified into the same category in the same color can be easily constructed.

Also, in the entertainment system 10 according to the present embodiment, the message 204 is internally stored.
To display a message frame 210 in which is displayed,
In particular, since the display range of the message frame 210 is determined based on the number of characters of the message 204 and the display range of the main object in the currently displayed scene, the message 204 is displayed while avoiding the main object such as the main character 200. It is possible to easily confirm the operation of the source of the message 204 (for example, the townspeople 202) while the message 204 is being displayed.

In the above example, the case where the message display means 300 according to the present embodiment is mainly applied to a role playing game has been described, but the present invention can also be applied to other games.

It should be noted that the entertainment system, the entertainment apparatus, the recording medium, and the program according to the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments, but may adopt various configurations without departing from the gist of the present invention. It is.

[0139]

As described above, according to the entertainment system, the entertainment apparatus, the recording medium, and the program according to the present invention, it is possible to easily recognize the meaning of a word on a message without prior information. The message displayed on the monitor can be understood at a glance, and when applied to a game, interest in the game can be maintained.

Further, according to the entertainment system, the entertainment apparatus, the recording medium, and the program according to the present invention, a message can be displayed while avoiding a main object such as a hero, and the message can be displayed while the message is being displayed. Can be easily confirmed, and when applied to a game, interest in the game can be maintained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an entertainment system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an operation device.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the operation device.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a use state of the operating device.

FIG. 5 is a partially broken bottom view showing a state in which a vibration imparting mechanism is provided in left and right grips.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the entertainment device.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of the operating device.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a main part for performing bidirectional serial communication between the operating device and the entertainment device.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example in which a message is displayed in a rectangular frame.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example in which a message is displayed in a balloon frame.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example in which the brightness of a part of a message is inverted.

FIG. 12 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration of a message display unit.

FIG. 13A is an explanatory diagram showing message data before processing, and FIG. 13B is an explanatory diagram showing message data converted into a display form.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of the message display means.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation of a display color code setting unit.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing details of a display color information table.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of the message data creation means.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Entertainment system 12 ... Entertainment device 16 ... Operating device 18 ... Monitor 20 ... Optical disk 200 ... Protagonist 202 ... Townman 204 ... Message 206 ... Rectangular frame 208 ... Balloon frame 210 ... Message frame 300 ... Message display means 302 ... Message frame Determination means 310 ... display color code setting means 314 ... message data creation means 316 ... message display output means

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G06F 3/00 654 G06F 3/00 654D

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. An entertainment device for executing various programs, at least one operating device for inputting an operation request from a user to the entertainment device, a display device for displaying an image output from the entertainment device, and the display. An entertainment system, comprising: message display means for displaying words classified into the same category among messages displayed on the device in the same color. 2. The entertainment system according to claim 1, wherein the unprocessed message data handled by the message display means and used for displaying the message is a data portion indicating a word to be displayed. And a display color code indicating a display color of the word. The entertainment system is characterized in that each display color code indicates a display color corresponding to the type of the corresponding word. . 3. The entertainment system according to claim 2, wherein, when a display color code of the unprocessed message data includes a display color code indicating an undefined state, the message display unit displays the display color indicating the undefined state. Search for the type corresponding to the word corresponding to the code,
An entertainment system comprising display color code setting means for defining a display color code according to the search result. 4. The entertainment system according to claim 1, wherein said message display means includes a message frame display means for displaying a message frame in which a message is displayed. Entertainment system. 5. The entertainment system according to claim 4, wherein said message frame display means includes at least said message frame based on the number of characters of a message displayed inside and a display range of a main object in a scene currently being displayed. An entertainment system comprising a message frame determining means for determining a display range of a message. 6. An entertainment device to which at least an operation device for outputting an operation request from a user and a display device for displaying an image can be connected, wherein the same category is included in the messages displayed on the display device. And a message display means for displaying words classified into the same color in the same color. 7. An entertainment device comprising: an entertainment device for executing various programs; at least one operating device for inputting an operation request from a user to the entertainment device; and a display device for displaying an image output from the entertainment device. In a recording medium on which a program or data used in the system is recorded, a message display step of displaying words classified into the same category among messages displayed on the display device in the same color is included. recoding media. 8. The recording medium according to claim 7, wherein the unprocessed message data handled in the message displaying step and used for displaying the message is a data portion indicating a word to be displayed. And a display color code indicating the display color of the word. The display medium is characterized in that each display color code indicates a display color corresponding to the type of the corresponding word. . 9. The recording medium according to claim 8, wherein, when the display color code of the unprocessed message data includes a display color code indicating undefined, the message display step includes a display color indicating the undefined. A recording medium comprising a display color code setting step of searching for a type corresponding to a word corresponding to a code, and defining a display color code according to the search result. 10. The recording medium according to claim 7, wherein the message displaying step includes a message frame displaying step of displaying a message frame in which a message is displayed. Recording medium. 11. The recording medium according to claim 10, wherein the message frame displaying step is based on at least the message frame based on the number of characters of a message displayed inside and a display range of an important object in a scene currently being displayed. A message frame determining step of determining a display range of the recording medium. 12. An entertainment device for executing various programs, at least one operation device for inputting an operation request from a user to the entertainment device,
Used in an entertainment system having a display device that displays an image output from the entertainment device, and read by a computer and executed by a program, among messages displayed on the display device, classified into the same category. A program comprising a message display step of displaying words in the same color.